diff --git a/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts b/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts
index 642d2e9e2..98dae2028 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts
@@ -187,6 +187,68 @@ sketch001 = startProfile(sketch002, at = [12.34, -12.34])
       page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' })
     ).toBeVisible()
   })
+
+  test('Can select planes in Feature Tree after Start Sketch', async ({
+    page,
+    homePage,
+    toolbar,
+    editor,
+  }) => {
+    // Load the app with empty code
+    await page.addInitScript(async () => {
+      localStorage.setItem(
+        'persistCode',
+        `plane001 = offsetPlane(XZ, offset = 5)`
+      )
+    })
+
+    await page.setBodyDimensions({ width: 1200, height: 500 })
+
+    await homePage.goToModelingScene()
+
+    await test.step('Click Start Sketch button', async () => {
+      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' }).click()
+      await expect(
+        page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Exit Sketch' })
+      ).toBeVisible()
+      await expect(page.getByText('select a plane or face')).toBeVisible()
+    })
+
+    await test.step('Open feature tree and select Front plane (XZ)', async () => {
+      await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
+
+      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Front plane' }).click()
+
+      await page.waitForTimeout(600)
+
+      await expect(toolbar.lineBtn).toBeEnabled()
+      await editor.expectEditor.toContain('startSketchOn(XZ)')
+
+      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Exit Sketch' }).click()
+      await expect(
+        page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' })
+      ).toBeVisible()
+    })
+
+    await test.step('Click Start Sketch button again', async () => {
+      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' }).click()
+      await expect(
+        page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Exit Sketch' })
+      ).toBeVisible()
+    })
+
+    await test.step('Select the offset plane', async () => {
+      await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
+
+      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Offset plane' }).click()
+
+      await page.waitForTimeout(600)
+
+      await expect(toolbar.lineBtn).toBeEnabled()
+      await editor.expectEditor.toContain('startSketchOn(plane001)')
+    })
+  })
+
   test('Can edit segments by dragging their handles', () => {
     const doEditSegmentsByDraggingHandle = async (
       page: Page,
diff --git a/src/components/ModelingSidebar/ModelingPanes/FeatureTreePane.tsx b/src/components/ModelingSidebar/ModelingPanes/FeatureTreePane.tsx
index 8bfd22297..1311fcdb8 100644
--- a/src/components/ModelingSidebar/ModelingPanes/FeatureTreePane.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ModelingSidebar/ModelingPanes/FeatureTreePane.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,12 @@ import {
   getOperationVariableName,
   stdLibMap,
 } from '@src/lib/operations'
-import { editorManager, kclManager, rustContext } from '@src/lib/singletons'
+import {
+  editorManager,
+  kclManager,
+  rustContext,
+  sceneInfra,
+} from '@src/lib/singletons'
 import {
   featureTreeMachine,
   featureTreeMachineDefaultContext,
@@ -34,11 +39,20 @@ import {
   kclEditorActor,
   selectionEventSelector,
 } from '@src/machines/kclEditorMachine'
+import type { Plane } from '@rust/kcl-lib/bindings/Artifact'
+import {
+  selectDefaultSketchPlane,
+  selectOffsetSketchPlane,
+} from '@src/lib/selections'
+import type { DefaultPlaneStr } from '@src/lib/planes'
 
 export const FeatureTreePane = () => {
   const isEditorMounted = useSelector(kclEditorActor, editorIsMountedSelector)
   const lastSelectionEvent = useSelector(kclEditorActor, selectionEventSelector)
   const { send: modelingSend, state: modelingState } = useModelingContext()
+
+  const sketchNoFace = modelingState.matches('Sketch no face')
+
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
   const [_featureTreeState, featureTreeSend] = useMachine(
     featureTreeMachine.provide({
@@ -195,6 +209,7 @@ export const FeatureTreePane = () => {
                   key={key}
                   item={operation}
                   send={featureTreeSend}
+                  sketchNoFace={sketchNoFace}
                 />
               )
             })}
@@ -251,6 +266,7 @@ const OperationItemWrapper = ({
   customSuffix,
   className,
   selectable = true,
+  greyedOut = false,
   ...props
 }: React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement> & {
   icon: CustomIconName
@@ -262,18 +278,19 @@ const OperationItemWrapper = ({
   menuItems?: ComponentProps<typeof ContextMenu>['items']
   errors?: Diagnostic[]
   selectable?: boolean
+  greyedOut?: boolean
 }) => {
   const menuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
 
   return (
     <div
       ref={menuRef}
-      className={`flex select-none items-center group/item my-0 py-0.5 px-1 ${selectable ? 'focus-within:bg-primary/10 hover:bg-primary/5' : ''}`}
+      className={`flex select-none items-center group/item my-0 py-0.5 px-1 ${selectable ? 'focus-within:bg-primary/10 hover:bg-primary/5' : ''} ${greyedOut ? 'opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed' : ''}`}
       data-testid="feature-tree-operation-item"
     >
       <button
         {...props}
-        className={`reset !py-0.5 !px-1 flex-1 flex items-center gap-2 text-left text-base ${selectable ? 'border-transparent dark:border-transparent' : 'border-none cursor-default'} ${className}`}
+        className={`reset !py-0.5 !px-1 flex-1 flex items-center gap-2 text-left text-base ${selectable ? 'border-transparent dark:border-transparent' : '!border-transparent cursor-default'} ${className}`}
       >
         <CustomIcon name={icon} className="w-5 h-5 block" />
         <div className="flex flex-1 items-baseline align-baseline">
@@ -311,6 +328,7 @@ const OperationItemWrapper = ({
 const OperationItem = (props: {
   item: Operation
   send: Prop<Actor<typeof featureTreeMachine>, 'send'>
+  sketchNoFace: boolean
 }) => {
   const kclContext = useKclContext()
   const name = getOperationLabel(props.item)
@@ -343,15 +361,22 @@ const OperationItem = (props: {
   }, [kclContext.diagnostics.length])
 
   function selectOperation() {
-    if (props.item.type === 'GroupEnd') {
-      return
+    if (props.sketchNoFace) {
+      if (isOffsetPlane(props.item)) {
+        const artifact = findOperationArtifact(props.item)
+        void selectOffsetSketchPlane(artifact)
+      }
+    } else {
+      if (props.item.type === 'GroupEnd') {
+        return
+      }
+      props.send({
+        type: 'selectOperation',
+        data: {
+          targetSourceRange: sourceRangeFromRust(props.item.sourceRange),
+        },
+      })
     }
-    props.send({
-      type: 'selectOperation',
-      data: {
-        targetSourceRange: sourceRangeFromRust(props.item.sourceRange),
-      },
-    })
   }
 
   /**
@@ -432,6 +457,20 @@ const OperationItem = (props: {
     }
   }
 
+  function startSketchOnOffsetPlane() {
+    if (isOffsetPlane(props.item)) {
+      const artifact = findOperationArtifact(props.item)
+      if (artifact?.id) {
+        sceneInfra.modelingSend({
+          type: 'Enter sketch',
+          data: { forceNewSketch: true },
+        })
+
+        void selectOffsetSketchPlane(artifact)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   const menuItems = useMemo(
     () => [
       <ContextMenuItem
@@ -477,6 +516,13 @@ const OperationItem = (props: {
             </ContextMenuItem>,
           ]
         : []),
+      ...(isOffsetPlane(props.item)
+        ? [
+            <ContextMenuItem onClick={startSketchOnOffsetPlane}>
+              Start Sketch
+            </ContextMenuItem>,
+          ]
+        : []),
       ...(props.item.type === 'StdLibCall' ||
       props.item.type === 'VariableDeclaration'
         ? [
@@ -550,22 +596,63 @@ const OperationItem = (props: {
     [props.item, props.send]
   )
 
+  const enabled = !props.sketchNoFace || isOffsetPlane(props.item)
+
   return (
     <OperationItemWrapper
+      selectable={enabled}
       icon={getOperationIcon(props.item)}
       name={name}
       variableName={variableName}
       valueDetail={valueDetail}
       menuItems={menuItems}
       onClick={selectOperation}
-      onDoubleClick={enterEditFlow}
+      onDoubleClick={props.sketchNoFace ? undefined : enterEditFlow} // no double click in "Sketch no face" mode
       errors={errors}
+      greyedOut={!enabled}
     />
   )
 }
 
 const DefaultPlanes = () => {
   const { state: modelingState, send } = useModelingContext()
+  const sketchNoFace = modelingState.matches('Sketch no face')
+
+  const onClickPlane = useCallback(
+    (planeId: string) => {
+      if (sketchNoFace) {
+        selectDefaultSketchPlane(planeId)
+      } else {
+        const foundDefaultPlane =
+          rustContext.defaultPlanes !== null &&
+          Object.entries(rustContext.defaultPlanes).find(
+            ([, plane]) => plane === planeId
+          )
+        if (foundDefaultPlane) {
+          send({
+            type: 'Set selection',
+            data: {
+              selectionType: 'defaultPlaneSelection',
+              selection: {
+                name: foundDefaultPlane[0] as DefaultPlaneStr,
+                id: planeId,
+              },
+            },
+          })
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    [sketchNoFace]
+  )
+
+  const startSketchOnDefaultPlane = useCallback((planeId: string) => {
+    sceneInfra.modelingSend({
+      type: 'Enter sketch',
+      data: { forceNewSketch: true },
+    })
+
+    selectDefaultSketchPlane(planeId)
+  }, [])
 
   const defaultPlanes = rustContext.defaultPlanes
   if (!defaultPlanes) return null
@@ -603,7 +690,15 @@ const DefaultPlanes = () => {
           customSuffix={plane.customSuffix}
           icon={'plane'}
           name={plane.name}
-          selectable={false}
+          selectable={true}
+          onClick={() => onClickPlane(plane.id)}
+          menuItems={[
+            <ContextMenuItem
+              onClick={() => startSketchOnDefaultPlane(plane.id)}
+            >
+              Start Sketch
+            </ContextMenuItem>,
+          ]}
           visibilityToggle={{
             visible: modelingState.context.defaultPlaneVisibility[plane.key],
             onVisibilityChange: () => {
@@ -620,3 +715,17 @@ const DefaultPlanes = () => {
     </div>
   )
 }
+
+type StdLibCallOp = Extract<Operation, { type: 'StdLibCall' }>
+
+const isOffsetPlane = (item: Operation): item is StdLibCallOp => {
+  return item.type === 'StdLibCall' && item.name === 'offsetPlane'
+}
+
+const findOperationArtifact = (item: StdLibCallOp) => {
+  const nodePath = JSON.stringify(item.nodePath)
+  const artifact = [...kclManager.artifactGraph.values()].find(
+    (a) => JSON.stringify((a as Plane).codeRef?.nodePath) === nodePath
+  )
+  return artifact
+}
diff --git a/src/components/ViewControlMenu.tsx b/src/components/ViewControlMenu.tsx
index 0054d5074..bc54d2505 100644
--- a/src/components/ViewControlMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ViewControlMenu.tsx
@@ -10,13 +10,22 @@ import {
 import { useModelingContext } from '@src/hooks/useModelingContext'
 import type { AxisNames } from '@src/lib/constants'
 import { VIEW_NAMES_SEMANTIC } from '@src/lib/constants'
-import { sceneInfra } from '@src/lib/singletons'
-import { reportRejection } from '@src/lib/trap'
+import { kclManager, sceneInfra } from '@src/lib/singletons'
+import { err, reportRejection } from '@src/lib/trap'
 import { useSettings } from '@src/lib/singletons'
 import { resetCameraPosition } from '@src/lib/resetCameraPosition'
+import type { Selections } from '@src/lib/selections'
+import {
+  selectDefaultSketchPlane,
+  selectOffsetSketchPlane,
+} from '@src/lib/selections'
 
 export function useViewControlMenuItems() {
   const { state: modelingState, send: modelingSend } = useModelingContext()
+  const selectedPlaneId = getCurrentPlaneId(
+    modelingState.context.selectionRanges
+  )
+
   const settings = useSettings()
   const shouldLockView =
     modelingState.matches('Sketch') &&
@@ -56,9 +65,35 @@ export function useViewControlMenuItems() {
         Center view on selection
       </ContextMenuItem>,
       <ContextMenuDivider />,
+      <ContextMenuItem
+        onClick={() => {
+          if (selectedPlaneId) {
+            sceneInfra.modelingSend({
+              type: 'Enter sketch',
+              data: { forceNewSketch: true },
+            })
+
+            const defaultSketchPlaneSelected =
+              selectDefaultSketchPlane(selectedPlaneId)
+            if (
+              !err(defaultSketchPlaneSelected) &&
+              defaultSketchPlaneSelected
+            ) {
+              return
+            }
+
+            const artifact = kclManager.artifactGraph.get(selectedPlaneId)
+            void selectOffsetSketchPlane(artifact)
+          }
+        }}
+        disabled={!selectedPlaneId}
+      >
+        Start sketch on selection
+      </ContextMenuItem>,
+      <ContextMenuDivider />,
       <ContextMenuItemRefresh />,
     ],
-    [VIEW_NAMES_SEMANTIC, shouldLockView]
+    [VIEW_NAMES_SEMANTIC, shouldLockView, selectedPlaneId]
   )
   return menuItems
 }
@@ -77,3 +112,21 @@ export function ViewControlContextMenu({
     />
   )
 }
+
+function getCurrentPlaneId(selectionRanges: Selections): string | null {
+  const defaultPlane = selectionRanges.otherSelections.find(
+    (selection) => typeof selection === 'object' && 'name' in selection
+  )
+  if (defaultPlane) {
+    return defaultPlane.id
+  }
+
+  const planeSelection = selectionRanges.graphSelections.find(
+    (selection) => selection.artifact?.type === 'plane'
+  )
+  if (planeSelection) {
+    return planeSelection.artifact?.id || null
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
diff --git a/src/hooks/useEngineConnectionSubscriptions.ts b/src/hooks/useEngineConnectionSubscriptions.ts
index 3a58ad68e..898167ce2 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useEngineConnectionSubscriptions.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useEngineConnectionSubscriptions.ts
@@ -14,13 +14,15 @@ import {
 import { isTopLevelModule } from '@src/lang/util'
 import type { CallExpressionKw, PathToNode } from '@src/lang/wasm'
 import { defaultSourceRange } from '@src/lang/sourceRange'
-import type { DefaultPlaneStr } from '@src/lib/planes'
-import { getEventForSelectWithPoint } from '@src/lib/selections'
+import {
+  getEventForSelectWithPoint,
+  selectDefaultSketchPlane,
+  selectOffsetSketchPlane,
+} from '@src/lib/selections'
 import {
   editorManager,
   engineCommandManager,
   kclManager,
-  rustContext,
   sceneEntitiesManager,
   sceneInfra,
 } from '@src/lib/singletons'
@@ -96,131 +98,18 @@ export function useEngineConnectionSubscriptions() {
             ;(async () => {
               let planeOrFaceId = data.entity_id
               if (!planeOrFaceId) return
+
+              const defaultSketchPlaneSelected =
+                selectDefaultSketchPlane(planeOrFaceId)
               if (
-                rustContext.defaultPlanes?.xy === planeOrFaceId ||
-                rustContext.defaultPlanes?.xz === planeOrFaceId ||
-                rustContext.defaultPlanes?.yz === planeOrFaceId ||
-                rustContext.defaultPlanes?.negXy === planeOrFaceId ||
-                rustContext.defaultPlanes?.negXz === planeOrFaceId ||
-                rustContext.defaultPlanes?.negYz === planeOrFaceId
+                !err(defaultSketchPlaneSelected) &&
+                defaultSketchPlaneSelected
               ) {
-                let planeId = planeOrFaceId
-                const defaultPlaneStrMap: Record<string, DefaultPlaneStr> = {
-                  [rustContext.defaultPlanes.xy]: 'XY',
-                  [rustContext.defaultPlanes.xz]: 'XZ',
-                  [rustContext.defaultPlanes.yz]: 'YZ',
-                  [rustContext.defaultPlanes.negXy]: '-XY',
-                  [rustContext.defaultPlanes.negXz]: '-XZ',
-                  [rustContext.defaultPlanes.negYz]: '-YZ',
-                }
-                // TODO can we get this information from rust land when it creates the default planes?
-                // maybe returned from make_default_planes (src/wasm-lib/src/wasm.rs)
-                let zAxis: [number, number, number] = [0, 0, 1]
-                let yAxis: [number, number, number] = [0, 1, 0]
-
-                // get unit vector from camera position to target
-                const camVector = sceneInfra.camControls.camera.position
-                  .clone()
-                  .sub(sceneInfra.camControls.target)
-
-                if (rustContext.defaultPlanes?.xy === planeId) {
-                  zAxis = [0, 0, 1]
-                  yAxis = [0, 1, 0]
-                  if (camVector.z < 0) {
-                    zAxis = [0, 0, -1]
-                    planeId = rustContext.defaultPlanes?.negXy || ''
-                  }
-                } else if (rustContext.defaultPlanes?.yz === planeId) {
-                  zAxis = [1, 0, 0]
-                  yAxis = [0, 0, 1]
-                  if (camVector.x < 0) {
-                    zAxis = [-1, 0, 0]
-                    planeId = rustContext.defaultPlanes?.negYz || ''
-                  }
-                } else if (rustContext.defaultPlanes?.xz === planeId) {
-                  zAxis = [0, 1, 0]
-                  yAxis = [0, 0, 1]
-                  planeId = rustContext.defaultPlanes?.negXz || ''
-                  if (camVector.y < 0) {
-                    zAxis = [0, -1, 0]
-                    planeId = rustContext.defaultPlanes?.xz || ''
-                  }
-                }
-
-                sceneInfra.modelingSend({
-                  type: 'Select sketch plane',
-                  data: {
-                    type: 'defaultPlane',
-                    planeId: planeId,
-                    plane: defaultPlaneStrMap[planeId],
-                    zAxis,
-                    yAxis,
-                  },
-                })
                 return
               }
+
               const artifact = kclManager.artifactGraph.get(planeOrFaceId)
-
-              if (artifact?.type === 'plane') {
-                const planeInfo =
-                  await sceneEntitiesManager.getFaceDetails(planeOrFaceId)
-
-                // Apply camera-based orientation logic similar to default planes
-                let zAxis: [number, number, number] = [
-                  planeInfo.z_axis.x,
-                  planeInfo.z_axis.y,
-                  planeInfo.z_axis.z,
-                ]
-                let yAxis: [number, number, number] = [
-                  planeInfo.y_axis.x,
-                  planeInfo.y_axis.y,
-                  planeInfo.y_axis.z,
-                ]
-
-                // Get camera vector to determine which side of the plane we're viewing from
-                const camVector = sceneInfra.camControls.camera.position
-                  .clone()
-                  .sub(sceneInfra.camControls.target)
-
-                // Determine the canonical (absolute) plane orientation
-                const absZAxis: [number, number, number] = [
-                  Math.abs(zAxis[0]),
-                  Math.abs(zAxis[1]),
-                  Math.abs(zAxis[2]),
-                ]
-
-                // Find the dominant axis (like default planes do)
-                const maxComponent = Math.max(...absZAxis)
-                const dominantAxisIndex = absZAxis.indexOf(maxComponent)
-
-                // Check camera position against canonical orientation (like default planes)
-                const cameraComponents = [camVector.x, camVector.y, camVector.z]
-                let negated = cameraComponents[dominantAxisIndex] < 0
-                if (dominantAxisIndex === 1) {
-                  // offset of the XZ is being weird, not sure if this is a camera bug
-                  negated = !negated
-                }
-
-                sceneInfra.modelingSend({
-                  type: 'Select sketch plane',
-                  data: {
-                    type: 'offsetPlane',
-                    zAxis,
-                    yAxis,
-                    position: [
-                      planeInfo.origin.x,
-                      planeInfo.origin.y,
-                      planeInfo.origin.z,
-                    ].map((num) => num / sceneInfra._baseUnitMultiplier) as [
-                      number,
-                      number,
-                      number,
-                    ],
-                    planeId: planeOrFaceId,
-                    pathToNode: artifact.codeRef.pathToNode,
-                    negated,
-                  },
-                })
+              if (await selectOffsetSketchPlane(artifact)) {
                 return
               }
 
diff --git a/src/lang/modifyAst.ts b/src/lang/modifyAst.ts
index df999321c..53c95f661 100644
--- a/src/lang/modifyAst.ts
+++ b/src/lang/modifyAst.ts
@@ -483,13 +483,13 @@ export function sketchOnExtrudedFace(
  */
 export function addOffsetPlane({
   node,
-  defaultPlane,
+  plane,
   insertIndex,
   offset,
   planeName,
 }: {
   node: Node<Program>
-  defaultPlane: DefaultPlaneStr
+  plane: Node<Literal> | Node<Name> // Can be DefaultPlaneStr or string for offsetPlanes
   insertIndex?: number
   offset: Expr
   planeName?: string
@@ -500,11 +500,9 @@ export function addOffsetPlane({
 
   const newPlane = createVariableDeclaration(
     newPlaneName,
-    createCallExpressionStdLibKw(
-      'offsetPlane',
-      createLiteral(defaultPlane.toUpperCase()),
-      [createLabeledArg('offset', offset)]
-    )
+    createCallExpressionStdLibKw('offsetPlane', plane, [
+      createLabeledArg('offset', offset),
+    ])
   )
 
   const insertAt =
diff --git a/src/lib/selections.ts b/src/lib/selections.ts
index e7f766d00..2504beac2 100644
--- a/src/lib/selections.ts
+++ b/src/lib/selections.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import {
   kclManager,
   rustContext,
   sceneEntitiesManager,
+  sceneInfra,
 } from '@src/lib/singletons'
 import { err } from '@src/lib/trap'
 import {
@@ -803,3 +804,156 @@ export function getSemanticSelectionType(selectionType: Artifact['type'][]) {
 
   return Array.from(semanticSelectionType)
 }
+
+export function selectDefaultSketchPlane(
+  defaultPlaneId: string
+): Error | boolean {
+  const defaultPlanes = rustContext.defaultPlanes
+  if (!defaultPlanes) {
+    return new Error('No default planes defined in rustContext')
+  }
+
+  if (
+    ![
+      defaultPlanes.xy,
+      defaultPlanes.xz,
+      defaultPlanes.yz,
+      defaultPlanes.negXy,
+      defaultPlanes.negXz,
+      defaultPlanes.negYz,
+    ].includes(defaultPlaneId)
+  ) {
+    // Supplied defaultPlaneId is not a valid default plane id
+    return false
+  }
+
+  const camVector = sceneInfra.camControls.camera.position
+    .clone()
+    .sub(sceneInfra.camControls.target)
+
+  // TODO can we get this information from rust land when it creates the default planes?
+  // maybe returned from make_default_planes (src/wasm-lib/src/wasm.rs)
+  let zAxis: [number, number, number] = [0, 0, 1]
+  let yAxis: [number, number, number] = [0, 1, 0]
+
+  if (defaultPlanes?.xy === defaultPlaneId) {
+    zAxis = [0, 0, 1]
+    yAxis = [0, 1, 0]
+    if (camVector.z < 0) {
+      zAxis = [0, 0, -1]
+      defaultPlaneId = defaultPlanes?.negXy || ''
+    }
+  } else if (defaultPlanes?.yz === defaultPlaneId) {
+    zAxis = [1, 0, 0]
+    yAxis = [0, 0, 1]
+    if (camVector.x < 0) {
+      zAxis = [-1, 0, 0]
+      defaultPlaneId = defaultPlanes?.negYz || ''
+    }
+  } else if (defaultPlanes?.xz === defaultPlaneId) {
+    zAxis = [0, 1, 0]
+    yAxis = [0, 0, 1]
+    defaultPlaneId = defaultPlanes?.negXz || ''
+    if (camVector.y < 0) {
+      zAxis = [0, -1, 0]
+      defaultPlaneId = defaultPlanes?.xz || ''
+    }
+  }
+
+  const defaultPlaneStrMap: Record<string, DefaultPlaneStr> = {
+    [defaultPlanes.xy]: 'XY',
+    [defaultPlanes.xz]: 'XZ',
+    [defaultPlanes.yz]: 'YZ',
+    [defaultPlanes.negXy]: '-XY',
+    [defaultPlanes.negXz]: '-XZ',
+    [defaultPlanes.negYz]: '-YZ',
+  }
+
+  sceneInfra.modelingSend({
+    type: 'Select sketch plane',
+    data: {
+      type: 'defaultPlane',
+      planeId: defaultPlaneId,
+      plane: defaultPlaneStrMap[defaultPlaneId],
+      zAxis,
+      yAxis,
+    },
+  })
+
+  return true
+}
+
+export async function selectOffsetSketchPlane(artifact: Artifact | undefined) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    if (artifact?.type === 'plane') {
+      const planeId = artifact.id
+      void sceneEntitiesManager
+        .getFaceDetails(planeId)
+        .then((planeInfo) => {
+          // Apply camera-based orientation logic similar to default planes
+          let zAxis: [number, number, number] = [
+            planeInfo.z_axis.x,
+            planeInfo.z_axis.y,
+            planeInfo.z_axis.z,
+          ]
+          let yAxis: [number, number, number] = [
+            planeInfo.y_axis.x,
+            planeInfo.y_axis.y,
+            planeInfo.y_axis.z,
+          ]
+
+          // Get camera vector to determine which side of the plane we're viewing from
+          const camVector = sceneInfra.camControls.camera.position
+            .clone()
+            .sub(sceneInfra.camControls.target)
+
+          // Determine the canonical (absolute) plane orientation
+          const absZAxis: [number, number, number] = [
+            Math.abs(zAxis[0]),
+            Math.abs(zAxis[1]),
+            Math.abs(zAxis[2]),
+          ]
+
+          // Find the dominant axis (like default planes do)
+          const maxComponent = Math.max(...absZAxis)
+          const dominantAxisIndex = absZAxis.indexOf(maxComponent)
+
+          // Check camera position against canonical orientation (like default planes)
+          const cameraComponents = [camVector.x, camVector.y, camVector.z]
+          let negated = cameraComponents[dominantAxisIndex] < 0
+          if (dominantAxisIndex === 1) {
+            // offset of the XZ is being weird, not sure if this is a camera bug
+            negated = !negated
+          }
+          sceneInfra.modelingSend({
+            type: 'Select sketch plane',
+            data: {
+              type: 'offsetPlane',
+              zAxis,
+              yAxis,
+              position: [
+                planeInfo.origin.x,
+                planeInfo.origin.y,
+                planeInfo.origin.z,
+              ].map((num) => num / sceneInfra._baseUnitMultiplier) as [
+                number,
+                number,
+                number,
+              ],
+              planeId,
+              pathToNode: artifact.codeRef.pathToNode,
+              negated,
+            },
+          })
+          resolve(true)
+        })
+        .catch((error) => {
+          console.error('Error getting face details:', error)
+          resolve(false)
+        })
+    } else {
+      // selectOffsetSketchPlane called with an invalid artifact type',
+      resolve(false)
+    }
+  })
+}
diff --git a/src/machines/modelingMachine.ts b/src/machines/modelingMachine.ts
index 0e091bd98..6dcb1da09 100644
--- a/src/machines/modelingMachine.ts
+++ b/src/machines/modelingMachine.ts
@@ -2609,15 +2609,15 @@ export const modelingMachine = setup({
           insertIndex = nodeToEdit[1][0]
         }
 
-        // Extract the default plane from selection
-        const plane = selection.otherSelections[0]
-        if (!(plane && plane instanceof Object && 'name' in plane))
+        const selectedPlane = getSelectedPlane(selection)
+        if (!selectedPlane) {
           return trap('No plane selected')
+        }
 
         // Get the default plane name from the selection
         const offsetPlaneResult = addOffsetPlane({
           node: ast,
-          defaultPlane: plane.name,
+          plane: selectedPlane,
           offset:
             'variableName' in distance
               ? distance.variableIdentifierAst
@@ -5520,6 +5520,33 @@ export function isEditingExistingSketch({
   return (hasStartProfileAt && maybePipeExpression.body.length > 1) || hasCircle
 }
 
+const getSelectedPlane = (
+  selection: Selections
+): Node<Name> | Node<Literal> | undefined => {
+  const defaultPlane = selection.otherSelections[0]
+  if (
+    defaultPlane &&
+    defaultPlane instanceof Object &&
+    'name' in defaultPlane
+  ) {
+    return createLiteral(defaultPlane.name.toUpperCase())
+  }
+
+  const offsetPlane = selection.graphSelections[0]
+  if (offsetPlane.artifact?.type === 'plane') {
+    const artifactId = offsetPlane.artifact?.id
+    const variableName = Object.entries(kclManager.variables).find(
+      ([_, value]) => {
+        return value?.type === 'Plane' && value.value?.artifactId === artifactId
+      }
+    )
+    const offsetPlaneName = variableName?.[0]
+    return offsetPlaneName ? createLocalName(offsetPlaneName) : undefined
+  }
+
+  return undefined
+}
+
 export function pipeHasCircle({
   sketchDetails,
 }: {